Internal-combustion engine



Aug. 21, 1945.

J. F. WOODS INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE F iled Jan. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor V5SEPA Fh 00QS sap '3.

Allg- 1945- J. F. woons 2,383,432

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W "'l I A l q I I Inventar '0 k I (1555 h/OODS n L \\\w I q Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Joseph F. Woods, Middlctown, Conn.

Application January 18, 1944, Serial No. 518,749

3 Claims. (Cl. 123-50) The present invention relates to new anduseful improvements in internal combustion engines of the Diesel type, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a unique construction and arrangement of ,oppositely reciprocating inner and outer pistons for compress ing and igniting the charge.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of the aforementioned character which embodies novel means operable by the outer piston, for injecting the fuel.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an internal combustion engine of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efilcient and reliable in operation, compact, light in weight,

and which may be manufactured at low cost.

'All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through an internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the cooling water connecting means.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the fuel injecting means.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section through the engine.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, showing a modified arrangement of connecting rods and crankshaft.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-8 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference character I designates a crankcase having mounted thereon a vertical cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 includes a water jacketed top portion or head 3 having connected thereto an exhaust p pe 4. Journaled in the crankcase l is a crankshaft 5 comprising a pair of outer throws 6 and a single, oppositely extending inner throw 1.

Mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 2 is an outer piston 8 comprising a water jacket 8. Rods I0 connect the piston 8 to the throws i of the crankshaft 5. The bearings ll of the connecting rods l8 comprise caps l2 which are fixed able in the crankcase I. Thus, the lower ends of the connecting rods ID are positively connected in a. manner to prevent relative twisting thereof.

The head ll of the piston 8 has formed therein a plurality of exhaust ports l5 which communicate with the pipe 4 through the upper portion of the cylinder 2. A valve l6 controls the ports I 5, said valve beingengageable with a seat I! which is provided therefor in the top or head of the piston 8. The valve 16 is of the poppet type and the upwardly projecting stem l8 thereof is operable in a guide l9 which is provided therefor on the piston 8. 28 closes the valve IS. A head 2| on the upper end of the exhaust valve stem I8 is engageable with a boss or the like 22 beneath the head of the cylinder 2 for opening the valve l6 against the tension of the coil spring 20. Thus, when the piston 8 approaches the top of its stroke, the valve I6 is opened to exhaust the spent charge. If desired, the valve guide I! may be water jacketed.

An inner piston 23 is mounted for reciprocation in the'outer piston 8. A rod 24 connects the inner piston 23 to the throw 1 of the crankshaft 5. Suitable rings 25 are provided on the inner piston 23 for operation in the outer piston 8.

Mounted on the cylinder 2 is a cooling water pipe 28, from a radiator or other suitable source of supply. An angular inlet pipe 21, which is mounted on the outer piston 8 for operation therewith and which communicates with the jacket 8 thereon, is slidably connected to the pipe 28. The pipe 21 is operable in a vertical slot 28 which is provided therefor in the lower portion of the cylinder 2. A substantially similar slot 28 in the upper portion of the cylinder 2 accommodatesa return pipe 30. A vertical branch II on the pipe 20 extends slidably into the jacket 8 of the cylinder 2 for receiving the water therefrom. A suitable connection may be provided between the water supply pipe 26 and the jacket 8.

fuel injection pump 32 is mounted on the cylinder 2 and the piston I and communicates with the combustion chamber 33. In the embodiment shown, the pump 32 includes a vertical tube 34 which is secured by arms 35 on the cylinde 2.

Also mounted on the cylinder 2 is a bracket 38.

" A vertically adjustable, stationary piston 31 is on the ends of a yoke l3, said yoke being oper- .55

mounted on the bracket 3.8. Mounted on the cylinder 8 and communicating with the combustion chamber 33 is a'cylinder 88 which is slidable on the piston 81, Projecting from the cylinder A coil spring 38 is an intake 39 having mounted thereon a vertical sleeve 40 which is slidable on the tube 34. The intake 39 is an constant communication with the tube 34 through a slot 4| in the latter. A check valve 42 prevents back flow of the fuel from the cylinder 38 to the tube 34. A check valve 43 prevents back how of the charge from the combustion chamber 33 to the cylinder 38. A coil spring 44 holds the piston 31 on the bracket 38 and prevents reciprocation of said piston with the cylinder 38. However, the coil spring 44 permits vertical adjustment of the piston 31 through the medium of a wedge 45 which is slidably engaged between the bracket 36 and a pin 46 on said piston. The wedge 45 may be adjusted manually or through the medium of a suitable governor connected to the engine.

Encircling the cylinder 2 is a manifold 41 which may be connected to any suitable source of air under pressure. Radial ports 48 in the outer piston 8. are adapted to be brought into communication with the manifold 41 for scavenging the engine when the exhaust valve l6 opens.

It is thought that the operation of the engine will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the pistons 8 and 23 are in substantially the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the charge which has been previously injected has been highly compressed and is ignited by compression in the chamber 33. Thus,

the piston 23 and the piston 8 are driven downwardly and upwardly, respectively, on their power strokes. When the outer piston 8 reaches the top of its power stroke, the valve i6 is opened and the spent charge is exhausted and scavenging air enters the cylinder. As the piston 8 moves upwardly, the cylinder 38 is raised therewith on the stationary piston 31. In this manner fuel is drawn into the cylinder 38 from the tube 34 past the check valve 42. A fuel line 49 from any suitable source of supply is connected to the tube 34. As the piston 8 moves downwardly, the cylinder 38 travels therewith and the fuel which is trapped in said cylinder 38 is injected into the combustion chamber 33 past the valve 43 by the stationary piston 31. By adjusting the piston 31 vertically through the medium of the wedge 45, the volume of fuel which is drawn into the reciprocating cylinder 38 and injected into the engine may be regulated as desired. The injection pump cylinder 38 is operable in a vertical slot 58 which is provided therefor in the upper portion of the cylinder 2, and fuel is injected into the compressed air in the cylinder during the down stroke of piston 8 and hence cylinder 38 and the compression stroke of piston 23.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, reference character 5| designates generally a crankshaft comprising a single inner throw 52 having formed integrally therewith a pairof outer throw 53. The outer throws 53. of the crankshaft 5| are fixed off center on apertured'metallic discs 54. The discs 54 are secured by bolts 55 to apertured flanges 56 on the inner ends of the shaft sections 51. The rod 24 is connected to the throw 52 and the rods l0 are connected to the throws 53 of the crankshaft 5|. This construction and arrangement facilitates assembling and disassemblin the engine.

It is believed that the many advantages of an internal ombustion engine constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments areas illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine of the character described comprising a crankcase, a cylinder mounted on said crankcase, a crankshaft operable in the crankcase, said crankshaft including a pair of outer throws and an oppositely extending inner throw between said outer throws, an outer piston operable in the cylinder, rods connecting said outer piston to the crankshaft, said rods comprising bearings journaled on the outer throws, said bearings including caps, a yoke fixed to said caps and operable in the crankcase, an inner piston operable in the outer piston, and a rod operatively connecting said inner piston to the inner throw of the crankshaft.

2. An internal combustion engine of the character described comprising a crankcase, a crankshaft operable in said crankcase, a cylinder mounted on the crankcase, an outer piston operable in the cylinder, an inner piston operable in the oute piston, rod connecting the pistons to the crankshaft, exhaust means connected to the cylinder and communicating with the interior of the outer piston, and means operable by the outer piston for injecting fuel under pressure into said outer piston, said means comprising a pump including a stationary tube mounted on the cylinder in parallelism therewith, a line connecting the tube to a source of fuel, a stationary piston mounted on the cylinder, 9, cylinder mounted on the outer piston for operation therewith and slidable on the stationary piston, an intake projecting from the second-named cylinder, the tube having a passage therein communicating with the intake, and a sleeve on said intake slidable on the tube.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft including a pair of aligned sections,

flanges on the adjacent ends of said sections,

discs secured to said flanges, a pair of outer throws fixed off center on said discs, an inner throw between said outer throws, a pair of piston rods journaled on the outer throws, a single piston rod journaledon the inner throw, and a yoke connecting the ends of the first-named rods which are journaled on the outer throws.

JOSEPH F. woons. 

